Attractive, high-quality awnings are an excellent investment for both home and business use. Made of long-lasting, weather-resistant materials, they can offer years of use and enjoyment with minimal care requirements. But in order to make sure that they continue to look their best and add value to your home or business, awning owners will need to do their part, and these maintenance tips are a great place to start.
Keep them clean and free of leaf litter and debris
Awnings are specifically designed and constructed with materials that are known to withstand the elements and retain their good looks with minimal fading or wear. Popular materials used by awning manufacturers include:
- heavy-weight cotton canvas
- acrylic-coated fabrics
- vinyl and vinyl-coated fabric
- fiberglass
- wood fiber canvas
While all of these materials are designed to withstand normal weather conditions, including sunshine and precipitation, their ability to do so can be affected if leaf litter or debris is allowed to accumulate on them.
Leaves contain varying levels of tannic acid, which can stain or degrade surfaces, especially if allowed to remain for more than a short time. Allowing leaf matter to gather on awnings can also create the potential for mold and mildew to develop. Regularly removing any accumulated leaf matter from awnings is the best way to ensure that they retain their color, appearance, and durability through years of use.
Protect them from excessive storm damage
While one of the duties of a well-constructed awning is to provide a level of shelter for portions of the home or business where it is installed, they are not designed to withstand the pressure of excessive storms, such as hurricanes. When possible, awning owners who live in areas where hurricanes occur will want to take down or roll up awnings as part of their storm preparations, to protect them during these massive storms.
Check them frequently for rips or weakened areas
Rips and tears can happen, even in the best quality awnings. Wind, insects, rodents, and other forms of damage can occur without warning, creating a weakened area that will be more likely to increase in size if not repaired quickly.
To avoid further damage, awning owners should inspect their awnings frequently. Small rips, holes, and weakened areas can be temporarily strengthened by applying duct tape to the underside of the awning to hold it together until a permanent repair can be made. Because the adhesive in duct tape can leave sticky residue behind, this type of repair should only be used for brief periods and removed completely as soon as repairs have been made.
For more information about keeping your awnings looking lovely and lasting longer, or to schedule an awning repair, home or business awning owners should contact a reputable awning repair service in their area.
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